Mass Is Held For Slain Student From Long Grove

May 22, 2000

BALTIMORE — The family of a slain University of Maryland-Baltimore dental student joined his friends and faculty members at a mass in Baltimore Sunday to remember the 26-year-old from Long Grove as a charismatic and upbeat man.

Christian Ludwig died early Saturday after he was stabbed in the stomach by an assailant who tried to steal Ludwig's friend's purse, according to authorities. Baltimore police said Sunday that they had not made any arrests.

Ludwig, who was set to graduate with 90 classmates this week, was hosting a party with his roommates Friday night, celebrating the completion of their certification exams. He had called the friend to join the party and she walked to his apartment, which was just off the campus and near Camden Yards, police said.

Upon hearing the friend scream shortly before 3 a.m., Ludwig ran down to the street and confronted the attacker and was stabbed, university spokeswoman Jo Martin said.

He died about an hour later at University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore.

Ludwig was the youngest of three sons. His father is a chef at a downtown hotel. Ludwig's parents and a brother, Patrick, returned to Chicago from Baltimore late Sunday to make arrangements for his funeral this week, Martin said.

Ludwig's classmates are planning to wear black ribbons on their gowns at the graduation ceremony Friday.